By Roy Cook, US Army SFA-75 veteran, editor

This is the 100 year celebration of the Arizona statehood. Mexican Americans in Arizona have lived in the Southwest for over 400 years and Tribal people –forever. All communities and Tribal people have responded to the call for service and courageous duty to their country, the United States of America.

In January, 1944, the Distinguished Service Cross was awarded posthumously to Private First Class Gilberto C. Estrada of Nogales, for extraordinary heroism on July 11, 1943, in the Solomon Islands. The war department citation said Estrada, an infantryman, killed two enemy machine-gunners when they attacked his company on the Munda trail in New Georgia. And Corporal Anthony Santestebán of Winslow won the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in action against the Japanese on New Georgia Islands. The 20-year old Marine was a member of one of the artillery batteries which helped pound the enemy into submission on Munda and Kolombangara.

US Army infantry man Felix Ortiz served in the South Pacific in WW II. His brother Rudolph Ortiz was at sea in the Pacific on a cruiser and served as a gunnery observer. His other brother Jesus Ortiz was in the Army on Greenland. All returned from combat. Many families had all or many of their sons volunteer to serve. Their example encouraged my cousins and me to volunteer for military service.

The parents of Tech. Sgt. Richard Estrada Mora of Miami received a telegram from the war department stating their son’s tragic death. Sgt. Mora was killed in action on the Marshall Islands on February 3, 1944. Private First Class José S. Ramos of Globe was listed as KIA in the navy department casualty list in early February, 1944. And Lt. Manuel Treviño, Jr., of Superior had completed twenty aerial bombing missions in the South Pacific by February 13, 1944. Lt. Treviño, awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters, had seven Japanese aircraft to attest to his courage.

The casualty list of Tucson men KIA was heavy: PFC Paul J. Berumen was killed when two Flying Fortress bombers collided in action. Sgt. Alfonso M. Hernandez was KIA in Italy, April 24, 1944. Marine Pvt. Anibal J. Norzagary was KIA in the South Pacific; Corporal Raul P. Moraga was KIA on July 15, 1944 in Italy. Marine PFC. Merado D. Robles was KIA on the island of Saipan on June 24, 1944.

US Army infantry man Felix Ortiz served in the South Pacific in WW II. His brother Rudolph Ortiz was at sea in the Pacific on a Navy cruiser and he served as a gunnery observer. His other brother Jesus Ortiz was in the Army on Greenland. All returned from combat to Tucson. Many families had all or many of their sons volunteer to serve. Their example encouraged my cousins and me to volunteer for military service.

In January, 1944, the Distinguished Service Cross was awarded posthumously to Private First Class Gilberto C. Estrada of Nogales, for extraordinary heroism on July 11, 1943, in the Solomon Islands. The war department citation said Estrada, an infantryman, killed two enemy machine-gunners when they attacked his company on the Munda trail in New Georgia. And Corporal Anthony Santestebán of Winslow won the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in action against the Japanese on New Georgia Islands. The 20-year old Marine was a member of one of the artillery batteries which helped pound the enemy into submission on Munda and Kolombangara.

The parents of Tech. Sgt. Richard Estrada Mora of Miami received a telegram from the war department stating their son’s tragic death. Sgt. Mora was killed in action on the Marshall Islands on February 3, 1944. Private First Class José S. Ramos of Globe was listed as KIA in the navy department casualty list in early February, 1944. And Lt. Manuel Treviño, Jr., of Superior had completed twenty aerial bombing missions in the South Pacific by February 13, 1944. Lt. Treviño, awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters, had seven Japanese aircraft to attest to his courage.

US Navy Vietnam era veteran, Gus Chavez noted, “There are so many stories of military veterans that need to be told, particularly, when the effect of war on families is included. Too often there is not any reference to the families (mothers/fathers/siblings) of these warriors. The patriotic spirit and love of the families were with the warriors that went into war. This spirit remained in their heart when they returned alive or wounded or whether in coffins.”

So that men could be released for service overseas, many Mexican American women provided the supportive services needed to continue the war effort. For example, PFC Carmen Martinez of Phoenix served with the U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve. She was on duty as a typist and filing clerk in the message center at the Marine barracks in Quantico, Virginia. And Privates Maria C. Espinosa and Anita H. Garcia also enlisted in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve from Phoenix. Private Dolores Alice Osuna of Globe served with the stenographic unit at an Army airfield. Rose F. Varela of Phoenix enlisted with the Waves. Mary Lou Mazón served in the Rapid City Army Air Base in South Dakota in 1942. Sgt. Josie Orñelas served with the WACs in 1943. Maria D. Armijo of McNary trained with the Army Corp at Fort Des Moines with a Wave unit. In 1945, Sgt. Vicenta R. Torres, stationed in Italy as a WAC, had the duty of directing mail from Italy to American fighting men stationed overseas. And in Phoenix, Pvt. Carmen C. Contreras became the 750th Arizona woman to join the Army. And Cpt. Matilde Yanez of Phoenix served as chief nurse in a combat zone hospital on the island of Luzon.

Those from the Salt River Valley also made their sacrifices: PFC Arnold Castro was recovering in a rehabilitation center in England early in 1945 from wounds received near Le Haye du Puits, France. For his heroism, he was awarded the Purple Heart. And for heroic achievement in action in northern Italy with the Fifth Army, Staff Sgt. Mauricio M. Aragón of Avondale received the Bronze Star.
Corporal Charlie A. Lugo won the Purple Heart for heroism in battle in Saipan.

Corporal Ruben Limas of Phoenix distinguished himself by serving as editor of an underground newspaper and fashioning a unique American flag to attract planes during his 3 ½ years of Japanese internment. Attached to the 60th Coast Artillery, Limas was captured by the Japanese at Corregidor in December, 1941. He was a POW at the Toyama camp in the Nagoya, Japan district. It was in this camp that he conceived the idea of attracting the attention of American planes flying over the prison in the hope that aid could be brought to a dying comrade. He decided this could be accomplished by fashioning an American flag large enough to be seen from the air. And so came into existence the most unique representations of the Stars and Stripes ever created. On subsequent days, the emblem was used to attract the attention of planes. Corporal Limas won the Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation with two Oak Leaf clusters, and the Philippine Defense Ribbon.

Also a winner of the Purple Heart, Pvt. Manuel G. Leyvas saw fierce action as a paratrooper in the African, Sicilian, Italian, Normandy, and Belgium campaigns. And PFC Carman Peña was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic conduct on the field of battle. The award was made for action in Germany, where he saved the lives of three companions under heavy enemy fire. Let’s not forget Staff Sgt. Juan Ramirez, reported to have died of wounds April 14, 1944 in Italy, and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism. At the outbreak of World War II, Valdemar Cordova joined the military at the age of 17, just two courses shy of his graduation from Phoenix Union High School. While in the service, he flew bombing missions until he was shot down over Germany. He was captured and spent 1 ½ years as a POW at the Stalag Luft I Berth in Germany. For his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Born in Mexico to Valentin Almanza and Felicitas Fierro Herrera and orphaned as a toddler, Silvestre Herrera was raised in El Paso, Texas by a loving uncle and aunt, Librado and Gertrudis Santana. As a young man, Herrera became a farm worker, and joined his family in the agricultural fields of Texas. Already married to Ramona Hidalgo Guerrera, with three children, and another child on the way, Herrera received his U.S. Army draft notice in 1944 while still a citizen of Mexico. His uncle reminded him that he was not a United States citizen and was not obligated to join the military. But Herrera felt it was his duty to fight and defend his adopted country, the United States. The Army sent him to Alabama for infantry training. On March 15, 1945, near Mertzwiller, France, his squad was pinned down by enemy German machine gun fire. Private First Class Herrera stood up and charged with the bayonet fixed on his M-1 rifle. He tipped over one machine gun and captured eight German soldiers. The squad advanced through a mine field toward another, better fortified machine-gun emplacement. Herrera stepped on an anti-personnel mine, and both his feet were blown off. He was evacuated to Bushnell General Hospital in Utah to receive medical care. On August 23, 1945, PFC Silvestre
Herrera was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in a special military ceremony by President Harry S. Truman. He also received his United States citizenship upon his return to his Mexican community in Phoenix. Herrera was honored for his bravery with a proclamation by Governor Sidney P. Osborn designating August 25, 1945 as “Sylvestre Herrera Day”. It didn’t matter that Herrera’s first name was misspelled on the proclamation, however. What mattered is that he was recognized by the citizens of the State of Arizona for his selfless act of courage and sacrifices at a time when his country needed him the most.

The Governor and other important officials were at the Union Station in Phoenix to greet the train bringing Herrera back home. He was the guest of honor at a patriotic parade down Central Avenue that morning and he sat on top of the back of a brand new red convertible so the crowd could see him pass by along the route. The parade stopped in front of the Republic and Gazette Building on Central. A platform was draped with red, white and blue bunting. The people cheered for the governor. They clapped for the mayor and Governor Osborn shouted “On behalf of the people of Arizona, I’m proud and happy to welcome you home, Sergeant Herrera!” It is also a fact that “just a few days before, it had been necessary for the Governor to take action to have removed from business establishments signs which said ‘NO MEXICAN TRADE WANTED!”
Arizona’s SYLVESTRE HERRERA is the ONLY MAN IN HISTORY to receive both the US Medal of Honor and The Mexican Medal for courage equivalent.

Many more Mexican-American and Tribal Military Heroes are listed below. Many have a hot link to view more information.

The FIRST MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION in our Nation’s history occurred at Apache Pass, Arizona on February 13, 1861.
During the Indian campaigns, 152 Medals of Honor were awarded for actions “in the field and on the ground” in Arizona. All 11 awards accredited to the State of Arizona were awards to Apache Indian Scouts.

* Bertrand Blanchard Acosta - Aviator, Fighter Pilot
* Lucian Adams - Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Everett Alvarez Jr. - Navy LCdr/Pilot who endured 8.5 years in Vietnamese captivity and one of the longest periods as a U.S. (POW)
* David B. Barkley - Medal of Honor (World War I)
* Roy Benavidez –Yaqui - Medal of Honor (Vietnam War)
* Robert Cardenas - U.S. Air Force Brigadier General
* Richard E. Cavazos - first U.S. Army Hispanic 4-star general, Distinguished Service Cross (Korea and Vietnam)
* Kathlene Contres - U.S. Navy
* Emilio A. De La Garza - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* Ralph Ellis Dias - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* Daniel Fernandez - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* José María Flores - General and Governor of Alta California (Mexican American War)
* Guy Gabaldon - Navy Cross, credited w/ capturing (or persuad to surrender) about 1,500 Japanese soldiers/civilians in Battle of Saipan (WWII)
* Marcario Garcia - Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Edward Gomez- Medal of Honor (Korean War)
* Harold Gonsalves - Medal of Honor (World War II)
* David M. Gonzales - (1923–1945) - Medal of Honor (World War II) First in Los Angeles
* Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* Freddy Gonzalez - Medal of Honor, KIA in Hue^' (Vietnam)
* Ambrosio Guillen- Medal of Honor (Korean War)
* Rodolfo P. Hernandez - Medal of Honor (Korean War)
* Silvestre S. Herrera - Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Edward Hidalgo - former Secretary of the Navy
* Jose F. Jimenez - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* Miguel Keith - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* Felix Z. Longoria, Jr. - first Mexican American buried in Arlington National Cemetery (World War II)
* Jose M. Lopez- Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Nicolas Lucero - French Croix de guerre (World War I)
* Benito Martinez - Medal of Honor (Korean War)
* Joe P. Martinez - Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Louis Gonzaga Mendez, Jr. - highly decorated Colonel, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (World War II)
* Ernest Medina - Captain of Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry of the 11th Brigade, Americal Division
* Francisco Mercado, Jr. - Distinguished Service Cross
* Eugene A. Obregon- Medal of Honor (Korean War)
* Rafael Peralta - Navy Cross (Operation Iraqi Freedom)
* Oscar_F._Perdomo - United States Air Force Flying ace (World War II)
* Manuel Perez Jr. - Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Lori Piestewa (1973–2003) - the first woman in the U.S. armed forces killed in the 2003 Iraq War
* Alfred V. Rascon - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* Louis R. Rocco - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* Cleto_Rodriguez- Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Joseph C. Rodriguez - Medal of Honor (Korean War)
* Alejandro R. Ruiz - Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Ricardo Sanchez - United States Army General and Author (Operation Iraqi Freedom)
* Marcelino Serna - Distinguished Service Cross (World War I)
* France Silva - Medal of Honor (Boxer Rebellion)

* Eugene Suarez - U.S. Marine, war photographer, World War II and Korea
* Jose F. Valdez - Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Eugene A. Valencia, Jr. - Flying Ace (World War II), Navy Cross
* Alfred Valenzuela -Major General, United States Army
* Jay R. Vargas - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* Ysmael R. Villegas - Medal of Honor (World War II)
* Maximo Yabes - Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
* Miguel Marquez - Aircraft Fuel Systems Journeyman, SrA, before getting discharged received 93% on PT test, USAF

Mexican American men and women proved their American loyalties and bravery in wartime. Their deaths, medals, citations, awards and unquestionable patriotism attest to their achievements and contributions to the nation’s efforts in many American conflicts. We join in a moment of silence in honor of their courage and service.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mexican_Americans
http://aiwa.americanindiansource.com/aiwaservice.html